Samuel Kofi Dzamesi, the Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs Minister, has directed churches and mosques to form COVID-19 Task Forces as part of measures to ensure congregants are safe during the novel Coronavirus pandemic.
This directive was in line with the government’s decision to ease the restriction imposed as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak in Ghana.
Outlining the detailed precautionary protocols for the various religious bodies in the country, the Minister told the media that any religious body that flouts the directive risks being closed or being dealt with appropriately.
Samuel Kofi Dzamesi said that every mosque and church must have a task force to handle emergency situations that may arise during services.
“Form COVID-19 Task Force comprising of members who are preferably health workers. They must be trained in health promotion measures, infection prevention and control and evacuation procedures by Ghana Health Service. The COVID-19 Task Force should call 112 or 311 for support to enable evacuation of anyone who develops fever, coughs and difficulty in breathing during service,” he noted.
President Akufo-Addo’s announced during his 10th televised address to the nation, that, “An abridged format for religious services can commence. Twenty-five per cent attendance, with a maximum number of 100 congregants, can worship at a time in church or at the mosque, with a mandatory one-metre rule of social distancing between congregants.”
He continued: “the mandatory wearing of masks for all persons at all times in churches and mosques, a register of names and contact details of all worshippers and handwashing facilities and sanitisers must be provided, with a maximum duration of one hour for each service.”
Source: Ghanaweb.com
